Reference Questions, 5/8/10

This is my last shift ever at Jackson. It's Saturday, and graduation is less than a week away. Yay!

1. Looking for a color printer
2. Needed guest login

This library was empty tonight. I can't believe I only got 2 questions. The only excitement was when a student walked past the desk in a Speedo and a t-shirt. I do not know what he was thinking. What a great story for my last shift. :)

Reference Questions, 5/5/10

Well this is my last weekday on the desk. Only one more shift left in this reference internship. Graduation is in 9 days.

1. Looking for Barry Miller
2. Looking for the microfilm of the News & Record
3. Looking for novels in French
4. Needed to compress a folder on their computer so they could send it to their professor
5. Looking for a water fountain
6. Needed to know how to put money on their ID
7. Looking for children's books
8. (Chat) Question about borrowing books over the summer
9. Guilford County school teacher needed to know where to go to get a library card
10. Looking for the Mossman Building
11. Looking for a color printer
12. Looking for a fax machine

It was a slow Reading Day in the library. Traffic all over campus is down. I guess everyone has finished up all their work.

Reference Questions, 5/2/10

May is finally here and graduation is only 12 days away. This is a Sunday on the ref desk, and finals start next week. I've been told it's been a slow day. Let's hope the trend continues. I only have 2 more ref shifts after this one. :)

1. Wanted an audio book for Shakespeare's The Tempest. Got the impression that she just didn't want to read it, because when I told her that she couldn't check it out because it is on reserve she started asking about a DVD of it
2. Looking for scholarly print journals on the economy
3. Had a question about whether or not the Journal of Education for Business is a scholarly journal
4. Looking for a scanner
5. (Chat) Having trouble finding journal articles on public health; they were trying to use the journal titles line on the library home page and that is only for finding specific journal titles
6. (Chat) Wanted to know what would happen if they stole a book; i wish I had told them they would go to jail; they just had never heard the security alarm go off and didn't believe it worked; i assured them that it does work
7. (Chat) Wanted to know why the chat handle is iMinerva; listen people I am the goddess of wisdom; duh
8. (Chat) Wanted to know where the ILL link is located
9. Computer problem in the reading room

It was another dead night on the desk. I guess no one is getting ready for finals yet. This coming week will probably be slammed.

Reference Questions, 4/30/10

Well it's the last day of April and one of my last shifts here at Jackson. I only 2 more shifts after this one. How sweet it is.

1. Looking for articles and books on Sly and the Family Stone
2. Guest log-in
3. Helped patron with Facebook, um yeah...
4. Looking for an article in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry from 1988 (even had a screaming toddler with her, lovely)
5. Guest log-in
6. Looking for HEAT bus schedules
7. Question about saving to the R drive
8. (Phone) Address lady wanted the address to the Daily Telegraph in London; a shift is not complete without a call from her

Talk about a slow shift. They may really want to reconsider not having this shift staffed. This is the second Friday 5-8 shift that I've had this semester that has been completely dead.

Reference Questions, 4/27/10

Well, this is going to be an all-nighter for me. I'm on the desk from 9-12 and then I have to pick my Dad up at 2 a.m. to take him to the airport. I hope to be in the bed by 6 a.m. I don't have to be anywhere tomorrow until 5:30 p.m. so hopefully I can sleep most of the day. This is really going to screw my sleep schedule up though.

1. A fellow LIS student had a question about the LISSA water bottles
2. (Chat) A fellow ref intern had a question about the schedule
3. Question about citing a article from an EBSCO database
4. Question about when the ref dept closes tonight
5. (Chat) Had a question about the closing announcement
6. Wanted to know what part of the library stayed open all night

Talk about a slow night. I figured we'd be a little bit busier than this. Oh well, I'm not complaining. :)

Reference Questions, 4/21/10

Only 2 more weeks left in the semester. I am so glad this is coming to an end. I had a job interview yesterday. I do not believe I will get the job, but it was good experience considering it was my first professional job interview.

1. Printing question
2. Looking for the undergraduate University Bulletins from 1991 and 1992
3. Looking for the current undergraduate University Bulletin
4. Wanted to copy and article
5. Looking for sources on Haiti
6. Printing question
7. Wanted to know where to get a copy of the current undergraduate University Bulletin
8. Looking for the bathroom
9. (Chat) Having trouble with the Dissertation database and didn't know what a browser is
10. Having trouble accessing the Peabody Journal of Education online; I was able to access it, I suggested he switch browsers
11. Looking for books on weight training
12. Looking for his class that was supposed to be meeting in the library; if they are not in the CITI lab then I do not know where they are
13. Looking for articles on bloggers vs. film critics
14. Looking for a book that was referenced in his textbook

A slow shift for a Wednesday.

Reference Questions, 4/17/10

Only one more Saturday on the desk this semester. I am so glad this semester has flown by. The library is dead today. It's alumni weekend and there is a lot going on around campus, so everyone is outside enjoying the beautiful weather.

1. Looking for lost and found
2. Wanted to know when the library closed tonight
3. Needed a guest log in
4. Needed to use the guest print card
5. Needed to use the guest print card
6. Looking for an audio book that she checked out a few weeks ago and returned; it's no longer in the catalog
7. (Phone) Address lady wanted the address to ITV in London; she irks me to no end
8. Looking for the new book by Elizabeth George
9. Looking for the bathroom
10. Looking for government documents on the FLDS (Waco, TX) and the FBI
11. Wanted to know when the library closed tonight and tomorrow
12. Needed a guest log in
13. Looking for Tower 3
14. Looking for the reference bulletin board to post a flier
15. Looking for lost and found
16. (Chat) Someone complaining about how cold it always is on
17. Having trouble accessing articles at home

A slow shift with very few reference questions. Good times always.

Reference Questions, 4/14/10

Here I am once again. I do not believe I have too many more of these shifts left. This semester has flown by, and I am so glad that it has. On a positive note I do have a job interview next week. Hopefully many more are on the horizon.

1. Looking for info on the history of sororities and fraternities on campus
2. Needed to know how to cite law reviews and had a question about how to find books and had an ILL question
3. Looking for a biology journal and a gov't document
4. Looking for the SuperLab
5. Looking for Life magazine; strangely it was at the reserve desk
6. Looking for a book on drug abuse
7. Looking for Poetry magazine
8. Printing question
9. Looking for articles for an annotated bibliography on mental disorders and recreation
10. Looking for Something About the Author
11. Looking for Death Dealer: The Memoirs of the SS Kommandant at Auschwitz by Rudolf Hoss
12. Looking for the play Pizza Man by Darlene Craviotto
13. APA citation question
14. Looking for the reserves
15. Looking for the reserves
16. APA citation question
17. Looking for resources on Castiglione
18. Looking for the book Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
19. Needed something to clean off a computer screen with
20. Looking for Tower 2
21. APA citation question
    

A power outage around 1 today provided some excitement. It took all the printers down for about an hour. We were without power for about 5 minutes. I cringe to think of all the people who lost the papers they were writing. Then for some reason with 10 minutes to go in my shift, my computer restarted itself. I was in the middle of helping a student too.

Reference Questions, 4/7/10

Well, I'm sick at the ref desk today. Between a sinus infection and terrible allergies I am not a happy camper. I also feel like I'm going to fall asleep sitting up. I'm moving at half speed today. Oh well, at least I have 2 monitors at the desk now. Dual monitors is the way to go. Awesome! :)

1. Wanted to know how to put money on the SpartanCard
2. Looking for sites to search for jobs at universities
3. Looking for the SuperLab
4. Looking for the ILL office
5. Looking for the bathroom
6. Looking for info on regulatory and political guidelines for restaurants
7. (Chat) Looking for a general online encyclopedia
8. Printing question
9. (Chat) Had a questions about advising
10. Wanted to check out a book at the ref desk
11. Grad student wanted to know how to find and check out a book
12. Looking for the book Freakonomics by Steven Levitt
13. Looking for books on child abuse or drunk driving
14. Printer out of paper
15. Looking for a Bible to check out
16. Complaint about people being loud and eating in the ref dept
17. (Chat) APA citation question
18. Looking for 2 books by Edmund Husserl
19. APA Citation questions
20. Looking for print editions of Congressional Quarterly Weekly and CQ Almanac
21. (Phone) Looking for a book that listed all copyrights
22. Question about a flash drive

The shift that wouldn't end. I hate being sick and at the ref desk. We were slammed at times too. I wish I could go home, but oh well I'm going to class tonight. :c(

Reference Questions, 4/3/10

Another Saturday on the reference desk. I'm on the low desk today, which always seems strange because I'm so used to being at the other desk.

1. Looking for sources on Eliza Southgate Bowne. A tricky questions indeed. Thank God for Biography and Genealogy Master Index.
2. Needed a guest log in
3. Needed some tax forms
4. Wanted to know what "in process" meant under the status of a book
5. Looking for a large paper clip
6. (Chat) Looking for a specific article
7. Wanted to know if she could log into one of the computers in the ref dept
8. (Chat) Looking for British newspapers online from the 19th century
9. Needed to know how to restart a computer

Slow shift today, but that's not a surprise. Tomorrow is Easter. Most people probably went home for the holiday.

Reference Questions, 3/31/10

It's hard to believe this is the last day of March. This semester is flying by. Only 44 days til graduation. :)

1. Looking for her class that was meeting here in the library; had no idea where in the library and thought I would know
2. A history professor was looking for the latest issue of Reviews in American History. There was a book review of his new book in it. I printed it out for him.
3. Another student was looking for her class that was meeting in the library. Again they had no idea where and thought I would know. Does no one pay attention in class anymore?
4. Looking for a guide to playing the piano
5. Looking for books on wireless telecommunication
6. Looking for the play Fourteen by Alice Gerstenberg
7. Needed to use the ref print card
8. Found a purse left beside one of the computers and was turning it in
9. Needed help finding journal articles and with ILL
10. Someone wanting to buy a Frisbee from Mark
11. Looking for books about the Salem Witch Trials; wanted a book that was rated R; had to explain that books are not rated, he was surprised; then he wanted an audio book because he doesn't like to read
12. (Chat) Having trouble accessing journal articles
13. Reading Room printer was acting up
14. Wanted to become a Friend of the Library; sent him to administration
15. Looking for sources on Guatemala
16. Looking for a group study area
17. Looking for articles on refugees and Greensboro, NC
18. Looking for articles on off campus living

Another exciting shift in the books. :)

Reference Questions, 3/27/10

Shifts two days in a row. This is a first. I'm sure I'll see more action today than I did yesterday.

1. Wanted to know if it was ok to go upstairs and pull some microfiche
2. (Phone) Wanted to know what time we closed and when the reference desk closed
3. (Phone) Wanted to know if the guest computers had a spot for a USB drive
4. Looking for the water fountain
5. Question about printing at the microfilm machines
6. Looking for a book about John Galt, it's called Atlas Shrugged, he wants to check it out the next time he's in the library
7. (Chat) Question about ILL
8. Looking for books on the profession of social work
9. (Phone) Wanted to know if Blackboard is down at the library, and it is. Lovely. I do not remember getting an email about scheduled downtime this weekend. I guess it was unscheduled maintenance.
10. (Phone) Question about searching the library catalog
11. Looking for books on the CLEP (College Level Examination Program)
12. Bathroom location question
13. Question about how long is Blackboard going to be down
14. Question about accessing journals online
15. Help with logging into the student computers
16. Needed to use the guest print card
17. Needed help finding a book
18. The printer in the Reading Room is acting up, again.
19. Problem with the microfilm machine
20. (Chat) Looking for sources on the culture of Wales
21. Question about when we close

Now this is a little more like what I am used to.

Reference Questions, 3/26/10

This is my first Friday shift ever. I have heard that they are usually quiet. We'll see...

1. Been here for over an hour and have not gotten a single question
2. Two hours and no questions
3. Wanted to know if I had change for a $20
4. Needed a guest log in and wanted to know what time the library closed tonight, was open tomorrow and closed tomorrow.

Two questions?! That's it in 3 hours. And I thought it was slow during the summer.

Reference Questions, 3/24/10

At the reference desk once again. :) Only 16 more shifts left until graduation.

1. Looking for the Merck Index
2. (Chat) Had a question about accessing scholarly journal articles
3. Question about the location of Tower 3, and how to find a book up there
4. Printing question
5. Looking for novels in Spanish
6. Looking for a unoccupied computer
7. Printing question
8. Restroom location question
9. Looking for Steve
10. Needed guest log in
11. Looking for the encyclopedias and the book First Family by David Baldacci
12. Looking for something on reserve
13. Looking for the Reading Room
14. Looking for a book she could check out on human anatomy
15. Looking for a dissertation and what turned out to be an unpublished conference paper
16. Looking for who was responsible for the cases beside the ref desk, it's archives so I sent him up there
17. Printing question
18. (Phone) Address lady needed the corporate address for Applebee's and the president's name
19. (Phone) Address lady needed the corporate address to the Discovery Channel, and the name of the president of Discovery. I could not find it.
20. Question about reserves
21. (Chat) Question about the Information Commons screens
22. Printer was out of paper
23. Transfered a chat to Steve
24. Helped students who were doing their Library CSI worksheets. Not really sure if I was supposed to help them or not.
25. Printing question
26. Looking for an open computer
27. Looking for Lynda
28. Looking for the writing center
29. Looking books on wellness

Next up a Friday shift!

Reference Questions, 3/21/10

Sunday night on the reference desk. I hope it's a slow one. :)

1. (Chat) Looking for an article
2. Looking for books on multitasking
3. A guy told me that the pictures located directly across from me were not taken in Spain. They were labeled Spain and he just wanted me to know that they were not taken there. I let Jenny handle him. I was on a chat at the time anyway.
4. (Chat) Question about renewing books
5. (Chat) Question about accessing the OED
6. (Chat) Question about what a thesis statement is
7. (Chat) Looking for an article
8. (Chat) APA citation question
9. (Chat) Looking for an article
10. (Chat) Question about renewing books
11. Needed a guest log in
12. (Chat) APA citation question
13. Looking for a book on lethal injection
14. (Chat) APA citation question
15. MLA citation question
16. (Chat) Question about accessing a journal article

I do not believe I have ever gotten this many chats in a shift. It's raining so I guess people are staying in and using chat.

Reference Questions, 3/17/10

St. Patrick's Day at the ref desk. I have on my green and I'm ready to answer questions and accept any job proposals. :)

1. Looking for a dictionary
2. Looking for books on the CIA for a research paper
3. Looking for the reference section
4. (Phone) Needed help accessing an article in PsycInfo
5. Needed guest log in
6. Needed to use guest print card to print
7. Looking for sources on fast food franchises
8. Had a question about Amtrak from Greensboro to Raleigh
9. Looking for the book drop
10. Looking for the Foust Building
11. Needed to use guest print card to print
12. Looking for the book Voices from the Storm: The People of New Orleans on Hurricane Katrina and Its Aftermath by Lola Vollen and Chris Ying
13. Needed help accessing PsycInfo
14. Looking for sources for a research paper about gender similarities or differences in academic achievement
15. Looking for Sophocles Oedipus Rex
16. Nursing student looking for articles on art therapy for children, couldn't find anything in CINAHL so I suggested looking in PsycINFO
17. God bless the nursing students. They always have interesting searches. The one that I suggested PsycINFO to needs evidence based articles and PsycINFO does have an option for that on the search page. So I suggested using evidence based as a search term. I'm sure she'll be back up to the desk again shortly.
18. Someone looking for Lynda
19. Question about the ref computers
20. Looking for sources on acculturation
21. Needed research help on an education topic
22. Looking for a book in the closed stacks
23. Needed guest log in, but said they weren't doing research so I couldn't give them one
24. Looking for the book The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson
25. Student from #21 had another question about education research
26. Looking for his class, they were meeting in the CITI lab, I believe he was an hour late

A normal shift which is always nice. Now off to finish up a presentation and eat some veg sushi, I hope. :)

Reference Questions, 3/3/10

The first shift of March, how lovely. Graduation approaches, just 72 days away now. I will be ordering my cap and gown today. It brings a tear to my eye.

1. A student was looking for articles on discrimination and Pepsi Co. She had found one through Google, but it wanted her to pay for it. I showed her some databases that she could use instead of Google.
2. Needed to get on the guest computers
3. Wanted to borrow some tape
4. Looking for a book on text and fonts
5. (Chat) A student wanted to know if we had discontinued access to Britanica Online. Unfortunately we have. I was not happy about this either.
6. A student wanted to know if she could check out CDs from the Music Library. (She thought only music students could check out from there.) She also needed to know where it was located.
7. The student from #4 was back. The book I sent her to find was not what she was looking for. So I helped her find another one. Hopefully this one works out better.
8. A student had a question about reserving collaboratories.
9. A student needed help searching PubMed for diabetes and carpal tunnel syndrome.
10. A student was looking for the book Captives as commodities: the transatlantic slave trade by Lisa A. Lindsay. He was very happy that the library had it and he said I was awesome. Always nice to hear.
11. A student was looking for a textbook. It was on reserve. I love how students think we have a room that houses every single textbook used on this campus.
12. Looking for the ILL office
13. Looking for the ILL office
14. A friend of the library had a question about checking out new books.
15. A student needed the library hours sheet.
16. (Chat) A student was having trouble with one of the computers in a collaboratory on the 6th floor. We sent ERIT up to help them.
17. Looking for the ILL office
18. Looking for Stephen Dew's office

Reference Questions, 2/24/10

It's snowing here today. Hopefully evening classes will be canceled. Can I be that lucky? 79 days to graduation.

1. A student (probably a basketball player he was taller than my husband and was wearing a UNCG warm up suit) was looking for his lost keys. I sent him to lost and found at the circ desk.
2. Looking for the Stone Building.
3. Looking for CQ's Politics in America 2010.
4. Looking for books on digital media.
5. A research assistant for a professor was looking for the Oxford Miscellany. I tried everything I knew, and then referred her to Mary. I'm sure Mary will be more help than I was.
6. A student wanted to know what distinguished a reference book from a regular book.
7. Help with printing.
   
8. Two students needed microfilm for Sports Illustrated.
9. (Chat) A student wanted to know if we had ebook copies of Indian wars in North Carolina, 1663-1763 and Indian massacre and Tuscarora war, 17ll-'13. We didn't.
10. Needed to make color copies of a magazine for an art class.
11. Looking for the book Art in America. However it is a magazine.
12. Looking for books on edible chemical dyes
13. A student was having password issues. I sent him to the SuperLab.
14. A student wanted to know how to cancel a print job.
15. (Chat) Looking for German language CDs
    
16. Looking for the TRC
17. Looking for the Current Lit section
18. Looking for books with the G call letter and for the copier
19. Question about accessing a database, L'Annee philologiques
    
20. Question about APA citations
21. Looking for a scanner

Reference Questions, 2/21/10

Sunday on the ref desk, and the library looks pretty quiet for now. Let's hope it lasts.

1. A WWSU student wanted to check something out. I sent her to the circ desk.
2. (Phone) A student was looking for journal articles and was having trouble finding them because she though the article title was the journal name. Yep.
3. Helped a patron file his weekly certification with the ESC. That was a first.
4. Oh how I love the art students. They just want to browse the art books. To the 4th floor you go. Have fun.
5. A student needed journal articles or books on dance in Costa Rica. They had to be hard copies, not electronic. Some of these professors have weird requests.
6. (Phone) Address lady needed the address to Costar Group. I was able to find this one, so she wasn't rude to me today.
7. The cell phone guy was looking for a website on Wilmington Hollywood. I found it and then he wanted me to print it off.
8. A student needed help with the microfilm machine.
9. One of the Friends of the Library needed to get on a guest computer. He then thought the computer was moving too slow and let me know about it.
10. A student needed books on China and its military and economy.
11. OK Friends of the Library wanted to email something to himself, but he doesn't know his email password. He is not the most computer savvy person on the planet and try to explain things to him is not the easiest thing. Oh I hope he leaves soon.
12. (Chat) A question about checking your Spartan Card balance.
13. Again showing the FOL guy how to find an article in journal finder.
14. A student needed to know where the PN section was in the reference dept.

I am not complaining, but this was a slow shift for a Sunday. Spring Break is less than 2 weeks away and it cannot come quick enough. On a side note, my Vampire Book Display is still a big hit. I will be adding 5 more books to it tomorrow. Yay vampires!

Reference Questions, 2/17/10

86 days til graduation, hurry please.

1. A student was looking for a play by Daivd Auburn called Proof.
2. A student was looking for scholarly articles on McCarthyism and labor unions.
3. Looking for the lost and found
4. Looking for the lost and found
5. Some people from UNCG Theatre's production of The Seagul came by and gave me a tea bag of Russian tea. It kind of made my day. :)
6. A student wanted an envelope. Ok....
7. A student needed help finding articles on underage drinking.
8. A student was looking for the 2nd floor of the library where the books and tables are.
9. Looking for the lost and found
10. (Chat) Looking for La Perfecta Casada by Fray Luis de Leon. The library didn't have it so I had to walk the person through how to ILL it.
11. Looking for a German English dictionary
12. Paper jam in the reading room printer
13. A student wanted to know what business sources we had for researching a company she is working with, the Carolina Cookie Co.
14. More printing problems in the reading room
    
15. Wanted to know how to search for articles in USA Today
16. Looking to put money on a FirstCard
17. A Guilford College student was looking for books on the Algerian War or La guerre d'Algerie.
18. A question about the free printing
19. Looking for a textbook, still?
20. A student was looking for scholarly articles and books on Satanic Ritual Abuse.

That was an interesting way to end a shift. I was able to find several sources for her, interesting indeed.